A woman from the Czech Republic who was lured to England and made to work as a prostitute was raped in a Lancashire restaurant, a court has heard.

Eleven people have appeared at Preston Crown Court charged with trafficking and controlling prostitution in connection with the case.

The woman, known as JS, was told she would be working in a kitchen.

However, when she arrived in the UK in October 2005 it is alleged she was put to work in brothels.

Prosecution barrister David Steer QC said it was during this time the 22-year-old is alleged to have been raped twice by Rojob Uddin, 41, of Reddington House, Collier Street, London.

Mr Uddin has denied the charges.

'Sold several times'

The barrister said the offences took place in living quarters of the India Cottage restaurant in the village of Salmesbury, near Preston.

The court heard that the woman's ordeal ended in February 2006 when she was able to escape from the restaurant and managed to tell a member of the public.

Mr Steer said that during her time in the UK the woman, who suffers from epilepsy, was sold several times and operated in the Manchester area, before she was finally trafficked to the restaurant.

When she arrived in the UK, the woman was accompanied by Nikol Franekova, 29, and was taken to an address in Bayswater Row, Leeds, where she lived with Ladislav Kaco Snr, 39.

JS stayed there several weeks before she was allegedly sold to David Horvath, 29, and Ivetta Grundzova, 32.

Mr Steer said her activities as a prostitute were controlled by Mr Horvath and Ms Grundzova from their home in Ferrant Road, Longsight, Manchester where they took her to work in a number of brothels in the city.

Siblings plead guilty

Shortly after she was trafficked again to Petr Buzo and Gabina Buzova, who lived in Meliden Crescent, Wythenshawe.

The jury was told Mr Buzo, 27, and his sister Ms Buzova, 31, had pleaded guilty to offences of controlling the activities of JS as a prostitute and trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation.

Mr Steer said the owner of the India Cottage and restaurant, Mohammed Islam, 40, chef Shiraj Uddin, 39, and Suffiur Rahman, 28, a takeaway worker at The Clay Oven in Northenden, Manchester, were responsible for moving JS from Wythenshawe to Salmesbury in February 2006.

Mr Kaco Snr and Mr Franekova, both of Gathorne Terrace, Chapeltown, Leeds and Vasil Tkacik-Kaco, 35, of Nice View, Harehills, Leeds, all deny trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation.